About Us
North Bay Produce is a cooperative of more than 30 grower-owners from North, Central, and South America, producing fresh fruits and vegetables year-round – from asparagus to apples, berries, and snow & sugar snap peas. Headquartered in Traverse City, the northwest corner of Michigan’s lower peninsula, the international company markets and distributes the products worldwide.
History
The company began as Wilderness Fresh Produce, a division of parent company Cherry Central Cooperative, Inc., in 1984 to market fresh Michigan apples, asparagus and prune plums for some of its members. To meet growing consumer demand for four-season availability of fresh produce, the company began importing product from Latin America in the mid- 1980s to expand its supply base. The success of those relationships resulted in Wilderness Fresh and its Latin American partners forming North Bay Produce, Inc. in 1991. Since that time, North Bay Produce has grown to become a market leader.
Market
North Bay Produce markets its produce to retailers, wholesalers and food service distributors throughout North America, Europe and Asia. Our consistent high quality and outstanding service has enabled us to partner with some of the strongest customers in each market segment. We continue to explore new and developing markets to expand our global reach.
Quality
From the field to the corporate office, North Bay Produce growers and staff are committed to consistently delivering high-quality fresh produce. Our growers comply with food safety and security standards and handling protocols to offer safe and delicious product. Staff at each of our warehousing & packing facilities skillfully inspects and oversees proper handling of all produce distributed by North Bay Produce to guarantee freshness and quality upon delivery.
Service
Earning customer trust and satisfaction is paramount to our business. Our facilities are open 365 days a year to serve customers and suppliers. In addition, sales representatives from our corporate office are available 24/7 to provide the attention needed for success in the fast-paced fresh produce industry.
Community Involvement
At North Bay Produce, we take great pride in our support of charitable organizations and enriching the lives and communities of those around us. We accomplish this by helping to raise awareness of life-changing illnesses, providing monetary support, encouraging employee volunteerism and offering workplace-giving programs. North Bay focuses on basic needs, charitable outreach, prevention and awareness, and school nutrition and activities.